Monthly Archives: March 2020

Dermatitis often runs in families and is one of the most common complaints GPs and dermatologists see in patients, especially in young children.

One in four children develop the condition before the age of two. Fortunately, a large proportion of children who suffer from dermatitis will outgrow this condition.

Dermatitis is a catch-all term for inflammation of the skin and although there are different causes of dermatitis, the effect is usually the same: red, swollen, dry, flaky, and very itchy skin, which occasionally forms blisters.

Dermatitis is also highly prone to developing infections.

While it's not contagious, dermatitis is often chronic and recurring.

Given that it can be very painful and uncomfortable, it can also have a huge physical and emotional impact on sufferers and their families. Here you can read about:

Eczema (atopic dermatitis) is the most common form of dermatitis in children.

In fact, 90 per cent of people with eczema experience their first symptoms in the first year of life.

Eczema causes an itchy pinkish-red, scaly rash, which can develop on the face, scalp, body and arms and legs.

The rash can get lumpy, weepy and crusty; and is prone to infection.

It is more common in children who have a strong family history of "atopic tendencies", which includes conditions such as asthma, hay fever and eczema, or in children who already have some of these conditions.

While the exact cause of eczema is not known, there are certain recognised triggers including dry weather, stress, infection and contact irritants such as soaps and detergents.

Dry skin is often the first symptom of eczema, and sometimes it flares up for no apparent reason.

Fortunately, as children get older, eczema often improves, with some children growing out of the condition altogether.

In general, eczema cannot be cured, but it can be managed.

The following tips can help you to manage the symptoms of eczema:

In most cases a doctor or dermatologist will prescribe a corticosteroid cream or ointment to relieve symptoms.

These usually work well when used appropriately. Other treatments include:

Dry skin can affect everyone, but the more melanin you have the more obvious the problem is, Santilla Chingaipe writes. Follow these steps to keep your skin hydrated all year round.

Contact dermatitis is inflammation of the skin due to contact with a particular substance, either an irritating chemical or an allergen (an allergen is something that causes an allergic reaction).

Generally, most contact dermatitis is of the irritant type (75 per cent) versus the allergic type (25 per cent).

Irritant contact dermatitis is caused by the chemical effect of strong alkali or acidic substances touching the skin.

This often develops over time and with continued exposure and it is commonly seen in certain occupations, such as hairdressers, cleaners, healthcare workers, builders, chefs and mechanics.

Water itself is a common known irritant as it weakens the skin's barrier function.

Everyone can develop irritant contact dermatitis with enough exposure to strong irritants.

Hand dermatitis is commonly caused by contact irritation.

Allergic contact dermatitis is less common and is the result of an allergic reaction in the skin to a certain substance.

Allergies can occur at any time after the initial exposure and in some cases, an allergy can occur after years of exposure to a substance.

Allergic contact dermatitis is an individual response to the allergen and will not occur in everyone who has been exposed.

Buzzwords and ingredients that take a degree to understand mean we often end up putting our faith in marketing or recommendations from social media when it comes to buying skincare.

The skin can become red, swollen and dotted with small, clear, fluid-filled blisters. These break down and weep fluid.

The skin is often extremely itchy. It can also lead to thickening of the layers of the skin, often with scaling, fissuring and cracking.

Usually a doctor can recognise contact dermatitis just by looking at it. But sometimes it's hard to tell what has caused the reaction because the rash often doesn't appear until hours or days after exposure.

When trying to identify the cause, the location of the affected skin offers a clue, because the irritant usually only affects those parts of skin it has contacted directly.

So if the rash is on the wrist, for example, it may be from the metal on the underside of a wristwatch.

A 'streaking' appearance may indicate the person has brushed past a plant to which they're allergic.

To test for allergic dermatitis, a doctor might recommend patch testing. This involves placing small amounts of substances that are commonly known to trigger allergic dermatitis onto patches placed on the skin to see if they trigger a reaction.

Whether it's the irritant or allergic type, most cases of contact dermatitis will gradually fade and disappear once exposure stops, though this can take quite a few weeks to months.

The most important thing is to protect the skin from further exposure to a known irritant or allergen.

Specific treatment for the contact dermatitis is similar to that used for atopic eczema, such as topical steroids and emollients.

When it comes to skin care, here are some of the most commonly shared myths that can be cleared up immediately, and some truths you can rely on.

Seborrheic dermatitis is a red, itchy, scaly rash on the scalp, face and other areas of the body like the eyebrows, beard, under the breasts, and in the folds of skin in the genital area (all areas where there are high numbers of oil glands in the skin).

Dandruff on the scalp is a mild form of seborrheic dermatitis. When it occurs in infants it's known as 'cradle cap'.

Seborrheic dermatitis is thought to be triggered by a build up of yeast in the skin that breaks down the oil and inflames the skin. It tends to recur, flaring up with stress and with other illnesses.

It can be treated with anti-yeast shampoos or lotions containing selenium, zinc or tar products. In severe cases, steroid creams and ointments are used to reduce the inflammation.

Venous dermatitis: A blue/brown discoloration of the skin caused by poor circulation of the veins, usually because of varicose veins in the legs.

It's most common in the lower legs and ankles, and is also known as stasis dermatitis or varicose eczema.

At first, the skin becomes itchy, reddened and mildly scaly. Over several months, the skin turns dark brown (caused by staining from blood that's seeped out of veins) and hardens.

The skin may break down and form a painful sore (ulcer), typically near the ankle. It improves with exercise, weight loss and the wearing of compression stockings.

Nummular dermatitis: Also known as discoid eczema, this condition usually affects older people.

Well-defined, small round or oval red patches with tiny blisters, scabs, and scales can affect any part of the body, especially the lower leg. It's usually intensely itchy.

The cause isn't known. It tends to be chronic and recurring and resistant to treatment.

Dyshidrotic eczema: Also known as pompholyx, it's another form of dermatitis that commonly occurs on the hands and feet.

It is characterised by tiny and intensely itchy blisters which can then cause peeling and cracks in the skin. Infection is a common complication.

It usually appears suddenly, especially after dramatic changes in the weather (from cold to hot) or with stress. It tends to recur.

Soaking the affected hands and feet in weak potassium permanganate (Condy's crystals) and strong topical steroids can help this condition.

This is general information only. For detailed personal advice, you should see a qualified medical practitioner who knows your medical history.

This story, which was reviewed by dermatologist Dr Eleni Yiasemides and originally published by ABC Health and Wellbeing, was updated in 2019.

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Read this article:
Eczema, dermatitis and how to treat dry, flaky and itchy skin - ABC News

By Dr Vincent Karuhanga

What is eczema and how can I stop it from damaging my skin? Stella

Dear Stella,People with allergic tendencies may have recurrent inflammation of the skin with itching, flaking and blistering called eczema.Because the skin will then overreact to substances taken into the body, or that come in contact with it, the condition keeps recurring even with the best treatments. A person with eczema apart from a doctors treatment should look out for conditions or substances that kick-start the eczema and if possible avoid them.

Changing laundry and using milder bathing soaps, preventing drying of skin by taking warm showers or baths after which an emollient is applied to the skin (emollients stop drying by stopping water evaporation) avoiding wearing tight-fitting, rough, or scratchy clothing and avoiding scratching the rash as well as limiting sweat accumulating on the skin are also good non-medicine measures for eczema.

During attacks, it is important to avoid strenuous exercise because this causes lots of sweating. Mental stress which on its own causes eczema flares should also be properly managed.

Excerpt from:
Best ways to treat eczema - Daily Monitor

It all started with a Google Doc, which outlined the products she uses to keep her skin clear. Rio now writes about beauty products for us full-time. Shes not a professional, shes just crazy.

Photo: Amazon

Its absolutely imperative, right now, to wash your hands as often as possible. In the last couple weeks, since I first heard of COVID-19, Ive been scrubbing mine ten-ish times a day, for at least 20 seconds per wash. The reality is, most of us dont normally wash our hands this frequently and even if you dont suffer from eczema or psoriasis like I do, this level of cleanliness can be pretty irritating on the skin. About a week ago, my knuckles erupted in red, inflamed, itchy scales. And it seems Im not alone: Ive gotten texts from my friends and family (as well as Slacks from co-workers) asking if I happened to know of a good, ideally inexpensive product to help relieve their itchy, chapped hands.

Finding this relief is important its much less painful to wash ones hands if theyre not chapped and bleeding. And since my hands were so far past any irritation Id ever experienced in the past, I decided to do some research to find the most healing hand cream available. After perusing one of Reddits eczema forums, I decided on bottle of Gold Bonds $4 Eczema Relief Cream (its comment section was rife with rave reviews: so much better than anything else Ive used! and It calms everything instantly!).

I put it on as soon as it arrived, and the first thing I noticed was how nice it felt to massage the thick, hydrating cream into my skin. It didnt immediately eliminate the dry patches and irritation, but after two days of consistent use (I put it on two to three times a day), they were completely gone my hands looked back to themselves. I attribute this to the creams formula: it is comprised of oatmeal (which calms the skin and prevents itchiness), aloe vera (for soothing and hydrating), and vitamin E (which helps build the skins protective barrier and lock in moisture.).

And though this is technically marketed as an eczema relief cream, it cleared up my boyfriends less patchy but still dry-as-a-bone hands in a matter of hours.

Actually good deals, smart shopping advice, and exclusive discounts.

The Strategist is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Some of our latest conquests include the best acne treatments, rolling luggage, pillows for side sleepers, natural anxiety remedies, and bath towels. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.

Original post:
This $4 Hand Cream Has Allowed Me to Wash My Eczema-Ridden Hands Ten Times a Day - New York Magazine

More hands are being washed than ever - and it is creating a new problem.

People are being urged to wash hands with soap and use hand sanitiser because of Covid-19, and it is leaving many with dry hands.

It is particularly an issue for those suffering from eczema.

That has led to the National Eczema Society (NES) issuing advice, reports the MEN.

Many eczema sufferers use an emollient to wash with and the society says using the soap substitute is adequate enough to keep hands clean.

To keep the eczema at bay they should reapply emollient to dry hands and if sanitiser is then added, the emollient should be reapplied once again.

For adults and children without an eczema diagnosis - but suffering dry and cracked skin as a result of the frequent washing - they should apply moisturiser after washing, followed by sanitiser.

Finding the moisturiser that's right for your skin type can be tricky, but there are plenty of hand creams to choose from and it's usually a case of trying a few to find one that suits best - so buy a small pot or tube initially to see if it helps.

The society says it has 'received a number of enquiries about the advice on frequent hand-washing and use of hand sanitisers to reduce coronavirus risk, for people with eczema'.

"Hand-washing is the best way to reduce transmission of coronavirus, and washing your hands with water and your usual emollient soap substitute should be adequate," says the NES.

"Emollient helps remove the virus from hands during the washing process, and serves the same cleansing purpose as soap."

It adds: "When you are out and about, we recommend that you continue to use emollient to wash your hands (decant a small amount into a pump dispenser or pot and refresh daily), and re-apply emollient afterwards.

"If you feel you need to use sanitising gel (which may irritate your eczema), apply your usual emollient afterwards to minimise any irritant effect. There is no eczema-friendly hand sanitiser, as they all contain alcohol, which dries out the skin.

"In public places where you can't avoid touching surfaces, try not to touch your nose, eyes or mouth (or your child's) because the virus gets in through mucous membranes."

Has yours or your child's eczema flared up because of frequent hand washing? Have you found a product to ease your dry or cracked skin? Let us know in the comments or share with us on our Manchester Family Facebook page.

More:
Hand-washing over coronavirus has created a dry skin epidemic - what to do - Coventry Telegraph

As coronavirus continues to spread around the world, prime minister Boris Johnson and the NHS are urging people to frequently wash their hands.

Like the majority of cold and flu bugs, health experts state that the virus is spread through droplets transmitted into the air from coughing and sneezing, which people nearby can take in through their nose, mouth or eyes.

However, if the droplets land on surfaces and are picked up on the hands of others, it can spread further.

Sharing the full story, not just the headlines

As a result, health experts say that regular hand-washing is the most effective means of prevention with both Public Health England and health secretary Matt Hancock recommending that people wash their hands thoroughly for 20 seconds at a time to curb the spread of germs.

While vigorous hand-washing and using harsh sanitisers are both vital in reducing the spread of the virus, they can have an adverse effect on the skin, leaving hands feeling dry, cracked and sore.

According to Dr Susan Mayou, a consultant dermatologist at the Cadogan Clinic, this is because over time, excessive washing depletes the skins natural protective barrier.

Repetitive hand-washing can damage the integrity of the skin as a barrier, stripping away natural oils and causing hands to become dry, sore and irritated, Dr Mayou says.

If you have damaged the skin it becomes less effective as a barrier against infection so moisturising is essential but definitely dont stop the hand-washing!

Dr Adam Friedmann, a consultant dermatologist and clinical lead at The Harley Street Dermatology Clinic, agrees, adding that many people who are adhering to the NHSs advice will experience irritant contact eczema an eczema caused by a chemical, such as soap, irritating the skin.

So what simple things can we do to reduce irritation? Here is a dermatologists guide to looking after your hands during the coronavirus crisis.

Both Dr Mayou and Dr Friedmann recommend using a moisturising cleanser such as Dermol 500 to wash your hands instead of traditional soap as it can help to soften and hydrate the skin, especially when youre suffering from conditions such as eczema or dermatitis. While soothing, the product is an antimicrobial emollient meaning it kills microorganisms and stops their growth.

Alternatively, Dr Mayou suggests looking out for products that contain ingredients such as shea butter and aloe vera.

After drying your hands or the application of hand-sanitising gel, Dr Friedmann says you should apply a generous layer of hand cream to help keep them nourished, soothe any dry areas and minimise skin irritation.

Dr Mayou adds that creams are much more effective than lotions, with Aveeno, Neutrogena, CeraVe and Cetraben among some of her favourite purse-friendly and effective options.

If youre looking for a more intense hit of hydration, hand masks are a great treatment method for concentrating ingredients on your digits. Hand masks work just like face masks and while some consist of a thick cream that you applyto the backs of your hands others come in ready-made gloves that youleave on for a while (usually around 10-20 minutes) as the product soaks in and works its moisturising magic. Some of our top picks are Aveenos Nourishing Hand Maskand Patchologys Perfect Ten Self-Warming Hand Mask.

Wearing gloves will provide an added layer of protection and are particularly beneficial when cleaning, Dr Mayou says.

Many household cleaning products contain harsh chemicals that can be damaging to the skin, causing an irritant dermatitis, she explains, while Dr Friedmann adds that rubber gloves should only be worn for short periods as they may exacerbate skin conditions.

The trouble with wearing non-breathable gloves is that sweat will build up and this can actually worsen the situation as sweat can be quite an irritant, he explains.

Dr Mayou adds that wearing gloves outside will give a layer of protection against the elements, which can also be drying to the skin, while applying a thick layer of hand cream at night with cotton gloves before bed can help nourish and repair skin.

In addition to regular washing, Dr Friedmann states that not drying your hands properly can have a drying effect on the skin as it strips the skins natural oils when it evaporates.

Dr Mayou agrees, adding that drying your hands thoroughly is also important in reducing the transmission of bacteria and viruses, which is more likely to occur from wet skin.

Single use paper hand towels are more hygienic than electric hand dryers in reducing the risk of transmitting viruses. If using a hand dryer, ensure hands are dried thoroughly do not finish the drying process by wiping hands on jeans or clothing as these may not be clean and may transfer infection back onto the hands, Dr Mayou says.

In the home, cloth hand towels should be changed frequently, especially if used by several people, to prevent transmission of infection.

If your hands are inflamed, itchy, swollen or painful and showing no signs of improvement, Dr Mayou suggests it could be time to seek advice from a dermatologist for treatment and to determine if there is an underlying cause of the condition.

Dr Friedmann adds that people should seek help the moment that the hand condition is making life uncomfortable or unbearable.

We can undertake tests to ascertain whether this is an allergy or an irritant eczema and give treatment, he says.

Read more about how to properly wash your hands here

Read the original post:
Coronavirus: How to properly care for dry hands caused by hand-washing and sanitiser, according to dermatologists - The Independent

10 items in this article 2 items on sale!

Photo: Courtesy of the vendors

We write about hundreds of products a week. Here, in our version of the Sunday circular, weve plucked out some of our favorites expert-recommendedessentials,life-changing stuffyou didnt know you needed, newly-launched gizmos, and thevery good dealswe uncovered while trolling through the vast online-shopping universe this past week.

As we wrote last week, one upside to our newfound downtime in this period of social distancing is that we all have more time to read. To help you (and ourselves) find new books to distract us from the 24-hour news cycle, we turned to the staff at one of our favorite local stores, McNally Jackson (which set up a fund to support its employees living costs after temporarily shuttering its locations due to the viral pandemic). This pick comes from shop owner Sarah McNally herself: This novella takes place over a week in Northumberland and is narrated by a 17-year-old girl. Her family joins a professor and three students to live off the land in a rough approximation of the Britons of the Iron Age. The tension builds, undercurrents of abuse rise ever closer to the surface. Its a little funny and very sad, and it transports the reader to the British bogs and beaches and to the life of hunting and gathering.

Another of our favorite distractions for these (and any other) days is a good puzzle, so we recently polled some cool people about the ones theyre putting together right now. This Areaware one came recommended by Books Are Magic bookseller and puzzle obsessive Margaret Myers, who does note that its calming-to-look-at ombr design makes it more challenging (but with time to kill, that may not be a bad thing). Theyre very hard and fun, she says, as well as framable (when complete), we think.

For many of us, the reality of working from home means working from the home you also live in with roommates, a situation that Strategist intern Kayla Levy is quite familiar with (she has four). From her guide to working from home with roommates (for which Levy spoke to other folks who have set-ups similar to hers) comes this month-at-a-glance schedule notebook from Muji, which crises-services worker Lena Beckett and her two other roommates use to coordinate chores because they need to happen much more frequently now.

Last week, columnist Chris Black and his friends behind Instagrams timely new account @WFHFits directed readers to several work-appropriate outfits for when your office might also be your couch. One such outfit, according to the @WFHFits braintrust, is a matching tracksuit by Adidas comfort and chic for you are the highest priorities. For more comfy-chic options, check out our staffers odes to their favorite work-from-home Shiv Roy pants, leggings, and tank tops (that double as yoga tops).

The reality is, most of us dont normally wash our hands this frequently and even if you dont suffer from eczema or psoriasis like I do, this level of cleanliness can be pretty irritating on the skin, our columnist says about one often-painful reality of proper personal hygiene. Following a deep dive into one of Reddits eczema forums, I decided on bottle of Gold Bonds $4 Eczema Relief Cream, she writes. After two days of consistent use (I put it on two to three times a day), dry patches were completely gone. I attribute this to the creams formula: It is comprised of oatmeal (which calms the skin and prevents itchiness), aloe vera (for soothing and hydrating), and vitamin E (which helps build the skins protective barrier and lock in moisture).

In a recent Micro Sale, we noted that this durable skillet from one of our favorite heritage cookware brands will come in handy for all the home cooking ahead. And, like the other Le Creuset pots and pans we (and our parents) own, if properly cared for, it will remain a workhorse in your kitchen for decades of happier times to come.

If being cooped up is taking a toll on your body, stretching can be a simple way to alleviate that. In talking to experts about the best tools you can use to become more flexible, many recommend prepping your muscles with a foam roller. One thing that massage-type tools can do relatively easily is improve the circulation of blood to the muscles, says Alain Saint-Dic, the head of training and development at Stretch Relief. This helps to get them warm, often leading to an overall better stretch. While the pros told us about less expensive foam rollers, we think this one recommended by Stretch*d co-founder and COO Vanessa Chu is particularly suited for stretching at home, because it collapses down for easy storage.

Youre probably thinking about stocking up on board games right now (among other things), begins contributor Rachel Daviess ode to these nifty, space-saving games. At first glance, they appear to be smart hardback classics you might see in an old library. But when you open the cover, youll find a nostalgic board game hidden neatly in there. She adds that, the clever design makes for easy storage, and that unlike the Candy Lands and Monopolys I grew up with, these versions are thoughtfully designed and beautifully illustrated, making the experience feel less like Im babysitting a preschooler and more like Im playing a parlor game with my very elegant friends.

While many of us might not want to peer at what the future may hold, those who do should consider this beautiful, not-so-useful object that you will treasure, according to writer Amanda Fortini, who recommended this tarot deck based on Salvador Dals tarot cards commissioned for the James Bond film Live and Let Die for our list of the best 40th birthday gifts. She calls them equal parts trippy and spooky, adding that they come in a purple felt box youll want to leave out on display. (Currently available for pre-order, the cards will ship in April 2020, according to Taschen.)

There is something about reading prop stylist Stephanie Yehs ode to her trusty tool (and toiletry) pouch that reminded us of the normal lives we may have temporarily lost, but, we hope, will return soon enough. Prop stylists are required to completely transform the ordinary into the spectacular to create a mermaid tail out of everyday objects, say, or build gravity-defying stacks of cosmetics. Which is where the Klein bags come in handy. They have a wide, 12.5-inch opening that can fit most anything we need, she told us, noting that, in addition to tools, sometimes, those things are extra pairs of socks, lip balms, or hand sanitizer.

Actually good deals, smart shopping advice, and exclusive discounts.

The Strategist is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Some of our latest conquests include the best acne treatments, rolling luggage, pillows for side sleepers, natural anxiety remedies, and bath towels. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.

Originally posted here:
10 Products That Delighted Us Last Week: From Track Suits to Tarot Decks - New York Magazine